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Trying to choose between the three most popular and well known brands of Soft Structure Carriers (also known as Buckle Carriers) on the market? As I see it, the ERGOBaby, the Beco Butterfly II, and the Boba are the most compared and inquired about SSC’s on the market today. Since I have used all three with both of my children I have decided to film videos comparing each carrier in different aspects of usage. The videos will be a visual reference for my written comparisons.

A Soft Structure Carrier is easier to use than Wrap, Mei Tei’s, and Ring Slings in most ways. Even though they take practice the learning curve is lower.

You can nurse any age baby in the three carriers in the video (Boba weight limit is 15 lbs +) but the adjustments will vary based on the height of your baby and your own build. Those with larger busts or taller babies might need to loosen their waist belt and push it lower so that the baby can reach the breast. At times I need to do this with the Boba.

My tips for successful and easy breastfeeding in a SSC.

Find the right SSC. Out of the three carriers I use my ERGObaby and Boba the most for front carries. If I know I will be nursing I definitely skip my Beco. The ERGO works great for infants up. You can purchase the infant insert to wear your baby from day one in the ERGO. The Boba is built for larger babies over 15 pounds or above a year. Ev can still be nursed in the Boba but he sits low since the back panel is higher than the Ergo.

Ensure your straps are adjusted properly. I have found the perfect balace on my SSC’s with my back strap, position and tightness of my waist belt, and arm straps. With a front carry you have to be able to reach your back clip (unless you clip ahead of time and do the one arm on, squeeze in method.) You ca tighten the back once you have the baby inside the carrier also. Incorrect adjustments will be an uncomfortable experience for you and nobody wants that!

Getting instructions and hands on help from another- more experienced- babywearing mama can really speed up the learning curve for any carrier hold and/or trick. Find a Babywearing International or other trustworthy group to join. Not only will you enjoy the meetings and learn a lot, you will probably be with your “tribe.”

Dress for Success(ful Boob Access). Breastfeeding in a SSC or any other carrier is far easier when you can pull up and out of your top. Pulling a shirt up while wearing your baby in a ring sling is not only hard to do but it can be less than flattering to show your stomach openly. Usually the carrier squishes things down in all the wrong places. Deep V necks, stretchy tank tops, button-up shirts, nursing tanks, shirts designed for nursing with a lift up or slit opening, anything that can be undone or give access to one boob from the top is perfect. If you are worried about showing too much remember that the straps cover most of what can be seen. More ideas for dressing to nurse in public in my “How to Nurse in Public” post.

Practice makes perfect. Trying this at a crowded fair for the first time isn’t going to work well. You will be nervous, you may be clumsy, and your baby will be hungry and impatient. If that hungry baby starts crying they might be harder to latch when you do get them into position. Try nursing in your SSC in your home and when the baby isn’t hungry yet (and in a good mood).

I have nursed both of my children in the ERGO and Boba (only a few times in the Beco) out in public in about as many places as I have visited. On Paddle Boats, Subways, Museums, Fairs, Malls, Outdoor Walks, and so on. I can guarantee you the general public had no clue that I was nursing my baby. Even though I find it easier to nurse in a ring slingwhen making adjustments, once I did it a few (billion) times in my SSC I became just as fast when making adjustments. When I first started it took a while. Another point to make is that that straps do get more pliable over time so that does affect how well the buckle slides and affects how easy it is to adjust.

I’ll be continuing this series of ERGObaby/ BBII/ Boba videos in the coming weeks. You can view all of the posts and videos in the series by following the ERGObaby/BBII/Boba Series.

Kim Rosas began Dirty Diaper Laundry in 2009 out of a desire to help more parents understand modern cloth diapers. She lives in Florida with her husband of 5 years and her two boys. Even though none of her boys wear diapers anymore she is still just as committed to promoting them. In her spare time Kim enjoys video editing, photography, and coffee.

Thanks so much for this viedo! I just got my Ergo and have been wanting to try nursing in it but have been intimidated to do it in public. raisinggentlemen.blogspot.com

Amanda

I rented all three of these trying to decide which one would work for us (although my Ergo was the performance model). I had a lot of fit issues to overcome. I’m tall (5′ 10″), fat (220), apple shaped, and long torsoed. I’m apparently a freak of nature. And my baby was also very big for his age so that was an issue too.

The only one that fit me even reasonably comfortably was the beco. The straps on the front of the carrier are more forgiving of a large waist and long torso and giant baby combo. Although I think the boba was very nice for back carries.

But as for nursing, there was just no way for any of them. It was ridiculous. It would have been nice to have that, but there was no way to drop him low enough. I love wearing my baby, but nursing is just something we can’t do in that position.

http://twitter.com/SandraGriffin81 Sandra Griffin

I linked your video in my blog because I found it very helpful thanks! http://mommamind.blogspot.com

virginia

Thank you so much for this video. I just had my second baby and am figuring out how to nurse her while on the go or taking care of my oldest. Looks like I’ve got some practicing to do. Thanks!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1211281515 Nicole Kiefer

I knew I would find this here…off to practice and thanks again!

Anonymous

Glad I could help!

Please excuse typos and brevity. Sent from my iPhone

http://www.facebook.com/stonemaiden Monica Weaver

Love this post. I tried nursing in the Ergo for the first time today– in the middle of a grocery store, no less! It was awesome. Thank you so much for showing the way!